As soon as these words were spoken, the other beastmen echoed in agreement.

“That’s right! I’ve seen it; this is the heart-protecting feather given to Lu Mian’er by Ying Yuan. She treasures it dearly!”

“How did Lu Mian’er’s feather end up here? Did she kill the potato seedlings?”

“I think it’s possible. Wasn’t Hu Jiao Jiao competing with her for Ying Yuan? Perhaps she’s taking revenge on Hu Jiao Jiao!”

The tribe leader, with a stern expression, turned to Lu Mian’er, shocked that the usually obedient and understanding girl could do such a thing.

“Lu Mian’er, why is your feather here? Are you involved in the death of the potato seedlings?” he demanded sharply.

Lu Mian’er turned pale with fear, hurriedly explaining, “Tribe leader, the feather is mine, but I really have nothing to do with the potato seedling’s death. I noticed the feather was missing yesterday; I didn’t kill the seedling…”

“You say it’s lost, but why should we believe you?”

“Exactly! What if you’re lying? I believe you killed the potato seedling.”

Among the beastmen, a few females who disliked Lu Mian’er chimed in with sharp voices.

In the tribe, females often viewed each other as competitors, leading to a general atmosphere of discord among them, making it common for them to take advantage of each other’s misfortunes.

“I didn’t! It really wasn’t me…” Lu Mian’er shook her head helplessly, her pale face evoking pity.

The surrounding males felt a pang of sympathy and stepped forward to defend her.

“Lu Mian’er has a kind heart; how could she destroy the potato seedling?”
“I believe in Lu Mian’er; there’s no way she could have done this. She must be innocent. Tribe leader, please uncover the truth!”

Just as the tribe leader was about to explode in anger, Hu Jiao Jiao suddenly stepped forward, her expression calm. “Tribe leader, since that’s the case, let’s compare the footprints on the ground.”

She pointed to a path between the river and the fields nearby.

“In the past few days, apart from me and the tribe leader, no beastman has come here or watered the plants. I just noticed unfamiliar footprints over there. The one who matches those footprints must be the one who destroyed the potato seedling.”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea.” The tribe leader stroked his chin and nodded in agreement, looking at Lu Mian’er. “What do you think?”

“Tribe leader, I can prove my innocence.” Lu Mian’er nodded vigorously, her face filled with sincerity.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lu Mian’er went to the riverbank to compare the footprints.

She saw that the footprints on the ground were long and slender, while her own feet were small and pudgy—clearly not from the same beast.

This result was expected by Hu Jiao Jiao.

As the female protagonist in the story, Lu Mian’er would naturally not do anything harmful to the tribe.

“Tribe leader, since everyone is here, why don’t we all compare our footprints? Perhaps we can find the real culprit.” Hu Jiao Jiao suggested, turning to the tribe leader.

“Yes, we must find the true culprit!” The tribe leader nodded seriously.

In the corner, Lu Cuicui turned pale with anxiety upon hearing this. Testing footprints? Wouldn’t that expose her?

“Hu Jiao Jiao, with so many beastmen here, testing one by one will take forever. I think you’re just making excuses because you don’t know how to grow potato!” Lu Cuicui accused angrily.

“You’re right; thanks for reminding me.” Hu Jiao Jiao smiled sweetly at Lu Cuicui. “Males don’t have such small feet, so it must be a female. We just need all the females in the tribe to compare.”

After saying this, she smiled at Lu Cuicui, her eyes twinkling. “Lu Cuicui, thank you for your reminder.”

“…”

Lu Cuicui ground her teeth in frustration.

This was truly a case of shooting herself in the foot.

Soon, the tribe leader ordered the beastmen to call all the females in the tribe.

The females lined up, taking turns to compare their footprints.

Lu Cuicui stood at the end of the line, steeling herself as she approached. Just after she compared her footprint, the crowd erupted as if a bomb had dropped.

“It’s Lu Cuicui!”

“Her footprints are identical to those on the ground. She is the one who destroyed the potato seedling!”

Seeing this, Lu Mian’er could hardly believe her eyes, her pupils filled with disbelief.

“Cuicui, did you steal my feather yesterday?” She frowned, eyes wide in disbelief. She found it strange that Lu Cuicui had suddenly apologized to her yesterday; she had been tricked again.

Lu Cuicui’s body trembled slightly, and she suddenly lifted her head, revealing her red eyes.

“Sister Mian’er, what are you saying? You gave me the feather and told me to do these things. You’re the one who made me do this…”

Her voice was filled with grievance, like a sorrowful wail.

“When did I give you the feather? Lu Cuicui, I never thought you could do something like this…” Lu Mian’er pointed at her in despair.

Before she could finish, Lu Cuicui interrupted her with a tearful tone.

“Sister Mian’er, at this point, you should just admit it. I can’t keep this secret for you anymore.”

“You!”

For a moment, all the beastmen’s eyes darted back and forth between the two, unsure of whom to believe.

What a grand spectacle this was!

Just then, a soft, melodious voice rang out, “Yesterday, I was talking with the tribe leader right here. To find out who the true culprit is, we just need to look around for similar footprints in the corners.”

As soon as she spoke, the beastmen immediately began searching.

“Here! This footprint matches Lu Cuicui’s!” A male soon shouted, pointing to footprints behind a tree.

Lu Cuicui’s face went pale in an instant. Just as she was about to explain, Hu Jiao Jiao looked at her with a beaming smile. “Lu Cuicui, the method of over-watering that killed the potato seedling was something you heard. Lu Mian’er didn’t know about it; how could she have instructed you?”

“This was all your own doing, wasn’t it?”

“I, I…”
Lu Cuicui was so flustered that she stumbled over her words, unable to say a single thing for a long time.

The tribe leader’s face darkened completely.

Seeing the tribe leader’s expression, all the beastmen fell silent.

“Lu Cuicui, you have repeatedly harmed the tribe. The tribe cannot keep you. From today, you and your partner will move outside the tribe to live. Without my permission, you are not allowed to set foot in the tribe again!”

The tribe leader’s anger flared, and in a fit of rage, he directly exiled Lu Cuicui.

Lu Cuicui widened her eyes. “No! You can’t do this! I don’t want to leave the tribe…”

Once a female is exiled, she can no longer return to the tribe, and any offspring she bears will not be permitted to be raised by her. They must be taken back to the tribe after birth.

From that moment on, she would lose the advantages of life within the tribe.

While she wouldn’t die, it would be worse than death.

With a hardened heart, the tribe leader turned coldly and said, “Take her away, and expel her from the tribe immediately. We cannot allow a female like you to remain here.”

“Tribe leader, spare me… I beg you, tribe leader. I can’t leave the tribe…”

Lu Cuicui wailed, but no beastman showed her any sympathy.

Before long, Lu Cuicui and her partner were driven out of the tribe.

A few beastmen tossed their fur packages to the ground before turning to leave.

Lu Cuicui sat down despondently on the damp, dark cave floor.

It’s over; everything is over!